Pond skater

About: There are nine species of pond skater in the UK, which range between 1cm and 2cm long. They 'skate' around on the surface of the water on ponds, lakes, ditches and slow-flowing rivers, often in large groups, feeding on smaller insects which they stab with their sharp beak.

How to identify: Only likely to be confused with the smaller, thinner, more fragile looking Water Measurer and the smaller, chunkier, shorter-legged Water Cricket.

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

Predator: 80

Agility: 70

Rarity: 20

Cute factor: 20

Traveller: 10

Fantastic fact: Pond skaters have lots of water-repellent hairs on the bottom of their feet, which enables them to walk on the surface film.